The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	My demand for AFSPA rollback reflects public view: Omar Says people of state want to relish peace along with development Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 21 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that his suggestion for the gradual revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in certain parts of the state represented the public view on the decline in militancy and gradual improvement in the security situation. The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the power grid station at Nipora, 15 km from Anantnag, in south Kashmir today. He said peace was imperative for development and its benefits should percolate down to people. “My endeavour in this regard reflects public aspirations. My suggestion for the gradual revocation of the AFSPA in certain parts of the state represents the views and hopes of the public,” he asserted, adding that people wanted to relish the fruit of peace and tranquillity along with the development process. Taking a dig at his political opponents, who have been allegedly accusing him of taking the AFSPA issue to strengthen his position, Omar Abdullah said that had that been his aim, he would have kept mum on the issue like them (PDP) when they were in power. “I represent public view and will advocate it continuously,” he said. Explaining the efficacy of the Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) to ensure prompt delivery of service to people by government departments and reduce the chances of corruption, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir was among the first few states to adopt this legislation. “We have amply empowered the people to receive the designated services under the Act within the prescribed time frame,” he said, adding that the erring officials were liable to punishment. He asked the people to take advantage of the Act and get various public services in the departments of transport, power, revenue, public health engineering and housing within the prescribed time fixed for each service. The Chief Minister said the coalition government was committed to having a powerful and effective panchayat system in the state and measures had already been initiated in this direction. “The transfer of the necessary powers to the panchayats has been effected and the government is in the process of setting up panchayat councils at the block level,” he elaborated. On the National Conference-Congress relations, Omar Abdullah said that their ties were cordial and would continue to grow further with the passage of time. He said both parties were working jointly for achieving the goal of a peaceful and progressive Jammu and Kashmir.
	PDP holds anti-govt protests across Kashmir valley Slams Omar’s shoddy handling of AFSPA issue Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 21 The opposition PDP led by its senior leader, Muzaffer Hussain Beig, held protest demonstrations against the alleged misgovernance, corruption, lack of development, hike in prices and human rights violations here today. The demonstrations, as part of the statewide protest, were also held at district headquarters of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Budgam, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora and Kupwara in the Kashmir valley. The senior party leaders who led the demonstration from the party headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park along the Residency Road here included Muzaffer Hussain Beig, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and Tariq Hameed Karra. Speaking on the occasion, Beig said the Chief Minister’s assertions on the removal of the AFSPA from Srinagar and Budgam district in the Kashmir valley, were only a political gimmick. “It will have to go from all areas -- from Kupwara (Kashmir) to Poonch (Jammu region) where this law actually is a source of trouble -- and not merely from Srinagar and Jammu as a cosmetic exercise planned by Omar,” he said, adding that the PDP was the first to propose its removal four years ago. He said former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had written a letter to the Prime Minister saying that there was no need for the AFSPA in the state. The PM had then set up a working group to look into the matter, he added. “The working group led by the Vice-President Hamid Ansari had recommended scrapping of this law, a development that has been frittered away by Omar Abdullah through his shoddy handling of the issue in a panic reaction to the exposure of his family’s corruption,” Beig said. He accused the Chief Minister of holding the Centre hostage by beating the AFSPA drum for holding on to his chair. He questioned as to why Omar had raised the pitch on the AFSPA at a time when voices in the Congress were raised over the issue of the rotation of chief ministership. The PDP leader also lashed out at the NC-led coalition government on various other issues, including corruption and the death of NC worker Syed Yousuf Shah.
	Agri insurance scheme comes a cropper in Jammu region Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, November 21 Almost four years have passed since the government introduced the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) in the state to assist the farmers suffering losses due to natural calamities like rains, floods and droughts. However, there is just one man handling the implementation work in the entire Jammu region with 10 districts. Due to the casual approach of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC), which acts as the implementation agency in the state, and the Agriculture Department, the basic purpose of the scheme is getting defeated and few farmers have so far insured their crops. The government has covered five major crops under the scheme, including paddy, wheat, maize, potato and mustard. The Perusal of the official documents procured by The Tribune revealed that the total number of farmers covered in the Jammu region under the scheme was also decreasing. The documents revealed that the total number of farmers covered under the scheme during the kharif season in 2009-10 was 1,944, which came down to 1,294 in 2010-11. A similar trend was observed in the rabi season, as the farmers covered in the year 2009-10 were 2,379, which reduced to 1,152 in 2010-11. Though field officer of the Agriculture Insurance Company Ashwani Bhat termed it a result of unwillingness of farmers to get covered under the scheme, Ajay Khajuria, Director of Agriculture, Jammu, said it was the result of lack of infrastructure of the insurance company. Khajuria said, “The insurance agency has appointed just one man here to look after the entire region, which is not possible. Though the officer visits the region yet there is a requirement of more staff, so that farmers in the remote areas could also be covered under it.” Bhat said, “Basically, I have been told to focus on RS Pura and Marh blocks of the Jammu region. But, I am visiting the entire region. The results will definitely come, but it will take some time.” He further said the number of total farmers covered this year would be calculated. However, he was not sure of any positive results this year also.
	Taking cue from Mayawati, BSP leaders in J-K talk of trifurcation Want statehood for both Jammu, Kashmir regions, UT status for Ladakh Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, November 21 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today came out openly in support of the demand for dividing Jammu and Kashmir into three separate regions to “fulfil” aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The BSP has taken this decision after party chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati passed a resolution in the Assembly for the division of UP into four states. Earlier, the Panthers Party, Jammu State Morcha and some groups from Ladakh were supporting the demand. The BJP, the main political force in the Jammu region, is in a dilemma over supporting the demand for trifurcation. “We will aggressively pursue the trifurcation agenda in Jammu and Kashmir because this is the only viable solution to the vexed Kashmir problem,” state president of the BSP Tulsi Dass Langeh told The Tribune. He said the state unit of the BSP had passed a resolution in this regard and had decided to take up the issue with the masses. Although the state leadership of the party has claimed that trifurcation of the state was already on the party’s agenda, sources said the BSP had taken the decision following erosion of the BJP votebank in the Jammu region after the cross-voting incident which weakened the state unit of the Saffron Party. “There is a political vacuum in the Jammu region as the BJP has lost its credibility following the cash-for-vote controversy, so our party has decided to raise the trifurcation issue to cash in on the pro-Jammu sentiment,” a senior BSP leader told on condition of anonymity and hoped that the issue would help the party regain its lost ground as well as make inroads into the citadels of the BJP. Langeh said the BSP has chalked out a detailed programme to organise rallies at the tehsil level to prepare the people to launch a struggle in support of the demand for the trifurcation of the state. “The trifurcation is on the top of the BSP’s agenda,” Langeh said, adding that the Jammu and Kashmir regions should be given the status of separate states while the Ladakh region should be declared a union territory. Langeh was of the view that the issue of discrimination with the Jammu and Ladakh regions would also be addressed after the division of the state. Meanwhile, the demand for the trifurcation of the state has again gained momentum after the decision of the UP Chief Minister on division of her state. “The government should fulfil our long-pending demand for imparting UT status to Ladakh,” said veteran Congress leader of Ladakh P Namgyal. He argued that the UT status was the only solution to the problems faced by the people of Ladakh.
	CS reviews restoration programmes at Leh Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 21 Chief Secretary Madhav Lal has impressed upon officials to dovetail resources for ensuring target realisation relating to various ongoing works. Chairing a review meeting at Leh, the Chief Secretary took stock of the massive rehabilitation programme for the affected families of the last year’s flash flood and restoration of damaged public service infrastructure, an official spokesman said. Taking a brief on the progress of various works taken up in hand under the Special Task Force package, the Chief Secretary said the core areas identified for a holistic development under the scheme should receive focused attention. He further said an additional flow of funds would be given due consideration wherever required. He asserted that pooling of resources and redoubling of efforts were required to reach out to people in the remote and far flung areas besides ensuring success of the welfare schemes. He asked the officials to revisit certain development schemes for expanding their orbit in order to cover more areas. “You should focus on the area specific needs of the people,” he said, adding that the ultimate goal of the work programmes should give substantial benefit to the people in fixed timeline. The Chief Secretary, during his two-day visit of Leh district, also inaugurated a solar power plant of 12.5 KWP capacity at Government Boys Higher Secondary School. He inaugurated a new videoconferencing facility at Leh and also inspected flood restoration works. He visited Saboo village, SNM hospital and Solar colony at Choglamsar.
	19 medical shops sealed Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 21 The Drug & Food Control Organisation continued with the crackdown on medical shops that were not adhering to the provisions of drug licence and sealed 19 medical shops here today. The measures were taken on the directions of Asghar Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. A special squad, led by Deputy Drug Controller, Kashmir, Nazir Ahmed, along with Assistant Drug Controller, Srinagar, Mohammed Yunis and SHO Soura, Mohammed Rafiq, inspected various medical shops near SKIMS Soura.
	GOC briefs Governor on security Tribune News Service Jammu, November 21 Lt-Gen AS Nandal, GOC, 16 Corps, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan here today and briefed him on the security situation in the area of his command. During the meeting, the Governor and the GOC also discussed several important issues relating to the security management. This was Nandal’s first meeting with the Governor after taking over as the Corps Commander recently. The Governor wished the GOC a very successful tenure.
	Afghan team gets tips on saffron cultivation Srinagar, November 21 A 25-member delegation from Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture concluded a week-long training programme in saffron cultivation yesterday under the tutelage of experts from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). “The delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Aghanistan, was here for a week for familiarisation with the latest technology and post-harvest techniques in saffron cultivation,” said SKUAST professor and saffron expert S A Nehvi. Nehvi said the delegation was briefed about the latest trends in the cultivation of saffron, which is one of the most expensive spices in the world and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. “Besides briefings, the delegation was taken to saffron fields in Pampore (14 km from here) and a saffron processing unit for a first-hand experience of the harvesting and post-harvest techniques in practice in the Valley," he said. The expert said the visit of the delegation, the first foreign team to be trained in saffron cultivation at SKUAST, came as part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the agriculture ministries of India and Afghanistan. Saffron cultivation was introduced in the Heart province of Afghanistan near the Iran border in 2000, but the yield was not good as farmers lacked the basic knowhow and techniques. “We have started cultivating it since 2000 on the Afghan-Iran border, but the yield has not been very good because growers lack technique and access to technology,” said Naseem Ataee, who heads the Afghan delegation. He said the government was trying to offer saffron as an alternative to farmers growing different narcotic plants. “We are hopeful that a better saffron yield will discourage people from growing poppy seeds,” Ataee added. — PTI
	JBCC opposes FDI in retail business Tribune News Service Jammu, November 21 The business community, particularly wholesale distributors, have expressed anguish over the policy of the Union Government to allow the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail within the country and to permit the multinational companies to open their sales outlets of consumer items in the country. Traders observed that this action of the government was going to affect the business interest of the local trading community adversely. A meeting of the Jammu Business Coordination Committee (JBCC) was held here today under the Chairmanship of Kulbushan Mohitra and all speakers assailed the policy of the Union Government to allow foreign direct investment in consumer goods and in the retail business. “This is causing great discontent and anxiety among the local retail traders. It will hit their business interests hard and in many cases, it will snatch their means of earning a livelihood,” said Kulbushan while addressing the meeting. He said the Union Government, in the name of economic reforms and globalization, first allowed the foreign-based multinational companies to enter the country’s manufacturing field and was now allowing the foreign companies into the consumer- items business.
	Car wash unit inaugurated Archit Watts/TNS Jammu, November 21 Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon today inaugurated the computerised car wash unit at the State Motor Garages’ regional workshop in the New Plot area here. The state-of-art car wash unit, costing Rs 19.5 lakh, can wash a car within seven minutes without causing any damage to the colour of the vehicle, Akhoon said. He stated, “Like other government departments, the Motor Garages Department is also embarking on the path of computerisation of services at its workshops, both in Jammu and Srinagar. During the past two years, computerised equipments have been installed at the two workshops, which include, computerised alignment, wheel balancing and injection cleaners.” Akhoon further asked the authorities concerned to ensure better maintenance of the vehicles by going for timely service and oiling of the same adding that these were the assets of the state and needed to be put to the best use.
	Soz meets Governor Tribune News Service Jammu, November 21 Saifuddin Soz, president, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and a Member of Parliament, met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan here today. During the meeting, the Governor and Soz discussed several important issues related to the economic develop-ment and security of the state.
	Govt mulls ropeway at Shivkhori Shrine Archit Watts/TNS Jammu, November 21 Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora today said the state government was seriously contemplating to install ropeways at Shivkhori Shrine in Reasi district and Yousemarg in Kashmir valley to attract tourists towards these destinations. He also directed the Managing Director of the Cable Car Corporation to formulate detailed project reports for this purpose, while reviewing the performance of the corporation at its 10th annual general meeting of shareholders here. Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atal Duloo; Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmed Shah; Managing Director, J&K Cable Car Corporation, Talat Parvez, and other senior officials were present at the meeting. It was also informed that the company had exceeded all its targets by earning revenue of Rs 17 crore till now, which would touch Rs 20 crore by the of this financial year.
	Taking cue from Mayawati, BSP leaders in J-K talk of trifurcation Want statehood for both Jammu, Kashmir regions and UT status for Ladakh Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, November 21 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today came out openly in support of the demand for dividing Jammu and Kashmir into three separate regions to “fulfil” aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The BSP has taken this decision after party chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati passed a resolution in the Assembly for the division of UP into four states. Earlier, the Panthers Party, Jammu State Morcha and some groups from Ladakh were supporting the demand. The BJP, the main political force in the Jammu region, is in a dilemma over supporting the demand for trifurcation. “We will aggressively pursue the trifurcation agenda in Jammu and Kashmir because this is the only viable solution to the vexed Kashmir problem,” state president of the BSP Tulsi Dass Langeh told The Tribune. He said the state unit of the BSP had passed a resolution in this regard and had decided to take up the issue with the masses. Although the state leadership of the party has claimed that trifurcation of the state was already on the party’s agenda, sources said the BSP had taken the decision following erosion of the BJP votebank in the Jammu region after the cross-voting incident which weakened the state unit of the Saffron Party. “There is a political vacuum in the Jammu region as the BJP has lost its credibility following the cash-for-vote controversy, so our party has decided to raise the trifurcation issue to cash in on the pro-Jammu sentiment,” a senior BSP leader told on condition of anonymity and hoped that the issue would help the party regain its lost ground as well as make inroads into the citadels of the BJP. Langeh said the BSP has chalked out a detailed programme to organise rallies at the tehsil level to prepare the people to launch a struggle in support of the demand for the trifurcation of the state. “The trifurcation is on the top of the BSP’s agenda,” Langeh said, adding that the Jammu and Kashmir regions should be given the status of separate states while the Ladakh region should be declared a union territory. Langeh was of the view that the issue of discrimination with the Jammu and Ladakh regions would also be addressed after the division of the state. Meanwhile, the demand for the trifurcation of the state has again gained momentum after the decision of the UP Chief Minister on division of her state. “The government should fulfil our long-pending demand for imparting UT status to Ladakh,” said veteran Congress leader of Ladakh P Namgyal. He argued that the UT status was the only solution to the problems faced by the people of Ladakh.